Brenda told me minnows are no problem for them this season...however, apparently there have been issues all over NWO this summer.
Personally, I too prefer soft plastics to live bait. The last couple of seasons I've become hooked on the new Berkely MaxScent. Outfishes livebait in my experience...easier to keep, stays on the hook longer, and pannies don't steal it as much.
The FlatWorm in Goby colour is crack cocaine for Smallmouth...either on the drop shot or Ned Rig..
And that's coming from a diehard Z-Man, Keitech, and MegaBass devotee..
Walleye can't resist it either...the Jerk Shad is killer...
Check out the purple bag on my dash...